Today would have been Shannon’s 26th birthday.

It’s hard to put into words just how much she is missed, and how deeply she is still loved. Fiercely intelligent, emotionally wise beyond her years, unapologetically herself. She had the rare ability to hold space for other people’s pain while navigating her own, and somehow still made you laugh along the way.

She had a massive heart, and a strong soul shaped not just by joy, but by real, hard-won experiences. She carried her scars, physical and emotional, with grace and courage. Shannon taught me, and so many others, what it means to live with intention, to love fiercely, and to speak truth even when it’s hard.

One of the memories that keeps coming back to me today, on her birthday, is how Shannon reacted to receiving gifts as a little girl. It didn’t matter what it was, big or small, simple or elaborate, she would light up like nothing I’ve ever seen. Her eyes would sparkle with joy, and she would run to the person who gave it to her with the most enthusiastic hug and thank-you you could imagine. That kind of joy and gratitude, that full-hearted way of living and loving, is what I miss so deeply today. I would give anything to experience that moment again. Just one more time.
Shannon was taken from us far too soon, and the weight of that loss never truly lessens. But today, on her birthday, I want to try and remember not just the sadness, but the light she brought to this world.

I think of her dancing. I think of her laughing with her brother. I think of her calling me “Pops”. I think of her traveling the world, sharing long conversations, and staying up way too late. I think of her determination to become a nurse, not just as a profession, but as a calling to care for others.

Shannon, I miss your voice. I miss your smile. I miss the way you’d call out BS in one breath and offer a warm hug in the next. You made this world more real. More alive. More beautiful.

Those of us who loved you are all still learning to live with your absence, but I promise you this, we carry your spirit with us. We talk about you. We say your name. We tell your stories. And we try, in our own imperfect ways, to live a little more like you did; with courage, honesty, and a heart full of fire.

Happy birthday, my sweet girl. You are forever loved, forever missed, and forever part of us.

Love you forever - Dad